NCJ Number
209454
Journal
International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology Volume: 49 Issue: 2 Dated: April 2005 Pages: 158-167
Date Published
April 2005
Length
10 pages
Annotation
This study compared the demographic and psychopathological profiles of males in prison for serious violence against women with that of males in a community treatment program for violence against women in the home.
Abstract
The high prevalence of violence against women in the home has led researchers to study the perpetrators of this violence in an effort to understand more about the etiology of violent behavior in marital relationships. Previous studies have indicated the presence of psychiatric problems in violent men. The current study compared the demographic and psychopathological characteristics of male perpetrators of gender-based violence who were sentenced to prison for their offense with those of men involved in community treatment for their offense. Participants were 54 incarcerated men and 42 community treatment men who completed several assessment instruments, including the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised and the State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory. Results of statistical analyses indicated no significant demographic differences between the two groups of aggressors. However, psychiatric variables and current emotional instability were significantly more frequent and severe in the community treatment participants. Thus, two differential profiles among the aggressors emerged from the findings. Future studies should attempt to confirm these findings because of their important implications for differential treatment modalities. Tables, references